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If you take a look at a traditional Advent Wreath, you may notice one candle that’s not quite like the others.
Advent Week 3: Joy
During the Advent Season–the weeks before Christmas Day where Christians and many people around the world prepare their hearts and minds to celebrate Jesus’ birth –it’s tradition to light four candles on a wreath of evergreen leaves and pinecones. These candles represent the four pillars of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love – the virtues we should remember and embody in the days leading up to Christmas. The candles representing the first, second, and fourth pillar of Advent are each purple, but the candle representing Joy stands out among the rest.
The Joy candle has a rosy pink hue as it represents the liturgical color for joy (the other candles are purple, representing the royalty and sovereignty of Jesus Christ). The pink shade also reflects the warmth and joy people felt as they were anticipating the coming of the savior.
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This candle is often called the Shepherd’s candle, referring to the shepherds who were told by an angel that the Messiah was coming. In the second chapter of Gospel of Luke, shepherds are watching their flock by night when an angel appears to them, telling them not to be afraid, for “I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (v. 10 NKJV) The angel told of the birth a child in a manger, who is Christ the Lord. And the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus in the manger, and marvelled at the sight of the Messiah.
They then went out and praised God the rest of the evening. Luke 2:20 reads, “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”
The shepherd’s spirit of praise is what we all should embody during the third week of advent and every day leading up to Christmas.
The third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday” in the church, meaning to rejoice and praise. It’s a time for overwhelming worship, shouting, clapping, singing, and giving Glory to God. While the first two weeks of advent may be all about somber reflection and service, this moment in the Advent season is meant to be a celebration, praising God for all He has done and all He will do.
Jesus’s coming and eventual return is a time of joy, there’s joy to be had in the love of the Savior. As the song goes, “Joyful all ye nations rise and join the triumph of the skies. With the angelic hosts proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’” Glory to the newborn king.
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Advent Week 1: Remembering the Power of Hope
Advent Week 2: A Prayer for Peace on Earth
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